Best Female Solo Album?

[eckohed]

...in any genre...I'm riding with Aretha's "I Never Loved a Man...", with "Lady Soul" in second...What does Alt forum think? What are some of your favorite solo albums by females.

On a related note, soul and jazz heads: what would you say are Roberta Flack and Nina Simone's best albums? Only full album by Roberta I have is the one with Donny Hathaway...

[Copper Scroll]

Roberta Flack's First Takeis gorgeous as far as I can remember. (I have it on vinyl but haven't listened to it in years. My record player is busted.) I agree Aretha's Never Loved A Man is the best, though.

As far as Nina Simone, I have a few compilations on cd (all good) and one live album, At Carnegie Hall, on vinyl. That live record is great, but I think the breadth and range of Nina Simone's work is best captured on the various compilations. There's an incredible 4-disc set called Four Women (Philips label) and a doubled-disc called Tomato Collection (Tomato label) that are both highly recommended.

Edit: Let's not forget Minnie Riperton.

[THE 101]

Patti Smith - Horses

[eckohed]

Copper Scroll good lookin out dude, I had heard First Take was cool...

Joni Mitchell's Blue should be mentioned here too, that album is incredible.